The team that changes names and drivers more often than some people change socks is at it again. MBM Motorsports—yes, the outfit run by former driver Carl Long—the one who decided to call their NASCAR Cup series entries Garage 66 is at it again. In keeping with their tradition of rotating drivers like a game of musical chairs, they’re bringing back a familiar face: Casey Mears.
If you’re trying to keep track of this circus, here’s a quick recap. Garage 66 kicked off its brief existence by announcing Mike Wallace for the Daytona 500, only for NASCAR to promptly respond with a firm “nope.” Enter Chandler Smith as the next driver, except not before Garrett Smithley was thrown into the seat for the Clash. Got it? Good.
Now, the latest twist: Casey Mears is suiting up for a one-off appearance at Martinsville Speedway. And unlike the previous Garage 66 pilots, Mears actually has a serious NASCAR pedigree. He’s racked up 489 Cup starts over 14 seasons, driving for heavyweights like Chip Ganassi Racing and Hendrick Motorsports. Oh, and let’s not forget that he won the 2007 Coca-Cola 600—a crown jewel event. He also set a track record to win the pole for the 2004 Brickyard 400, a moment made even sweeter given that his uncle, Rick Mears, is a four-time Indianapolis 500 champion. Racing runs in the family.
Mears has some serious credentials outside of stock cars too. He was the first full-time NASCAR driver to win the Rolex 24 outright in 2006. He even bagged a NASCAR Xfinity Series victory that same year. And for a while, it seemed like Casey Mears was set for a long career in NASCAR.
But then, as is often the case in this sport, the rug was pulled out from under him. After the 2016 season, he faded from Cup competition, only resurfacing once in 2019 for the Daytona 500 with Germain Racing—the team he had driven for from 2011 to 2016. That comeback was, well, disastrous. He started 40th, crashed out, and finished… 40th. Ouch.
Since then, Mears has dabbled in off-road racing, taking on the Baja 1000 and Robby Gordon’s Stadium Super Trucks. But deep down, it seems like he had unfinished business in NASCAR. In 2023, he declared he wanted to hit 500 career Cup starts, aiming to piece together an 11-race schedule. That milestone would place him alongside names like Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin, Joey Logano, and Brad Keselowski. There was even chatter that his good friend Jimmie Johnson—now a co-owner at Legacy Motor Club—might help make it happen.
Then? Silence. Nothing. Crickets. With his 50th birthday approaching, Mears’ 500-start dream looked dead in the water.
Until now.
Come March 30, Mears will fire up a Garage 66 Ford at Martinsville for Cup start number 490, with sponsorship from HitchGO, a mobile RV repair and trailer service company.
“I’m happy to be back in a race car and look forward to returning to Martinsville, one of my favorite tracks,” Mears said. “I appreciate Carl working with me to make it happen; he’s a well-respected, great guy who’s worked hard to experience longevity in the sport. I’m excited to have HitchGO, Mosby’s Towing and Transport, and Coble Enterprises on board as we chip away at 500 NASCAR Cup Series starts.”
So, he’s 10 races shy of his goal. Where will those races come from? That’s anyone’s guess. For now, all we know is that start number 490 will be at Martinsville.
“Having Casey Mears drive a Garage 66 car is a proud day for our organization,” Long said. “He’s driven for NASCAR’s elite, such as Chip Ganassi Racing, Hendrick Motorsports, and Richard Childress Racing. Adding Garage 66 to that list means a lot to me and everyone who’s helped build our team.”
Here’s the reality check, though. At 47, Mears needs to find his next gig fast, or this whole 500-start dream will stay just that—a dream.
“Casey and I first connected many years ago when I was driving, and he always treated me and our fellow competitors with respect on and off the track. He hails from a historic racing family, but it’s not something he boasts about. He always takes time for everyone, which is indicative of his character. I love having the opportunity to work with good people, especially when they drive fast.”
No question, Mears has proven he can drive fast. But can Garage 66? That remains to be seen. Their first two outings weren’t exactly confidence-inspiring. Smithley failed to make the main event at the Clash, and Chandler Smith wrecked out of his Duel, leaving Garage 66 watching the Daytona 500 from the sidelines. Maybe a veteran like Mears can finally steer this operation into the spotlight. Or maybe, just maybe, time away has dulled his edge, and this comeback will fizzle before he ever reaches 500.
Either way, it’s worth keeping an eye on. This story isn’t over yet.